State of the Mirrorless Union: CES and Imaging USA 2016

Lets welcome back, Mark. He’s been traveling extensively including the big CES show in Las Vegas and the Imaging USA show in Atlanta. Hope you had a chance to visit him at one of these shows.

Today’s Post by Mark Toal

I just got back from the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas and Imaging USA in Atlanta and I’m happy to report that the question is no longer why mirrorless, but which mirrorless.

At CES dealers and customers mainly wanted to see the new Panasonic DG Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 lens. Olympus did not have a booth at the show for customers anxious to see the new Digital ED 300mm f/4 IS PRO Lens they recently announced. Both of these lenses finally allow the nature photographer to have high quality glass for Micro Four-thirds cameras. (Look for a review of the new Olympus lens next month as Joe tests it alongside nature photographer Mike Denson.)

Imaging USA is sponsored by the Professional Photographers of America. It’s an event as much about the educational classes the PPA provides as it is the trade show that I attend for Panasonic. PPA members are mainly professional wedding, portrait, event and sport photographers. The main interest in mirrorless camera was the Panasonic GX8 and GH4. Professional photographers, like every business, need to introduce new services and video has been creeping into the still photographers mix for a few years. 4K video allows the still photographer to add video and be able to pull usable still images from the video footage to make a print.

Most of all the small size of the Mirrorless cameras is what’s attracting customers. As Joe and I have been saying for years these smaller cameras will change your life as well as save your back and neck.